Arming of fighting and other aeroplanes



SCHNEIDER. ARMING 0F FIGHTING AND OTHER AERoP'LANEs.

APPLICATION FILED MAY10, 1920.

Patented June 28, 1921.,

l0 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I. i. M.'. IEJSCHNEIDER.

ARMlNG 0F Flamme AND OTHER AERoPLANEs.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIQ, i920.

Patented June 28, 1921.,

i0 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I. J. M. A. E. SCHNEIDER. ARMING oF FlGHTlNG AND OTHER AEROPLANES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY l0. i920.

Patented June 28, 1921.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 3- ullllunu ninna n 1.1. M. A. E. SCHNEIDER. ARMING 0FFIGHTING AND OTHER AEROPLANES.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY 10, 1920.

1.383,24@ Patented June 28, 1921.,

10 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I. I. IVI. A. E. SCHNEIDER. ARMING oF FIGHTING AND OTHER AERoPLANEs.APPLICATION FILED MAYIO, 1920.

1,383,242o Patented June 28, 1921.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

J. J. M. A.-E. SCHNEIDER. ARMING 0F FIGHTING AND OTHER AEROPLANES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY |10, |920.

Patented J une 28, 1921.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

1.1. Ni. A. E. SCHNEIDER. ARMING 0F FIGHTING AND OTHER AEROPLANES.APPLICATION FILED MAYIo, 1920.

L, I Patented June 28, 1921..

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 7- ES. ISQ E? I yI I I. I. M. A E. SCHNEIDER.

ARMING 0F FIGHYTING AND OTHER AEROPLA'NES. APPLICATION FILED III/10.1920

Patented June 28, 1921.,

10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

APPLICATION FILED MAY l0. 1920.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

Patented June 28, 1921.

1. 1f. M, A. E. SCHNEIDER.

ARMI-NG 0F FIGHTING AND OTHER AEROPLANES.

APPLLcATloN FILED MAMO, i920.

Patented hm@ 289 1921.,

1o SHEETS-SHEET lo.

JEAN JULES MARIE ANTOINE EUGENE SCHNEIDER, or mais, FRANC-E BIRMING- OFFIGHTING AND OTHER AEROPLANES.

'than the main body of said fuselage and supports on the bottom of the`fore-nose thus formed, a turret carrying a gun. The

fore-nose thus constitutes a higher floor of the fore-part of thefuselage which may be armed inthe usual manner with a machine gun or agun of small bore. The armament comprises, altogether, in the fore-partof a fuselage of normal height, a combinatiton of the usual machine gunor small-bore n 'with a gun of largerbore capable of being trained in ahorizontal direction.

arious constructional forms of this invention are illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate respectively in diagrammatic longitudinalelevation and front view, one form of the improved installation of thearmament on a lighting aeroplane according to this invention.

Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive illustrate in detail a constructional example ofthe turret suspended from the bottom of the fore-nose B.

Fig., 3 is a front view. y

F'g. a is a vertical section taken along the axis of the aeroplane.

Fig. 5 is a plan in partial section. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate on alarger scale respectively in vertical section onthe line 6 6 of Figi. 5,and in horizontal section on the line -J of Fig. 6, `a fastening whichallows of xing the .turret in any position oit training of the gun.

Figs. 8 and' 9 illustrate lrespectively in vertical section and in lan.another constructional example of this fastening.

Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section on -the line 10--10 of Fig.11, illustrating the bottom of the fore-nose B of the fuselage with theturret suspended from the latter.

Fig. 11 is a corresponding plan.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lPatented J une 28, M321.

Application filed May 10, 1920. Serialv N0. 380,262.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section on the line 12- 12 of Fig- 11.

Fig. 13 is'a horizontal section on the line 13- 13 of Fig'. 10, showingthe positions occupied respectively by the gun barrel H and the turret Cafter an angular displacement ozofI the latter. i y

Fig. 14 is a detail vertical section on a larger scale on the line14--14 of Fig. 11.

F1gs. l5 and 16 are respectively a vertical section along the axis ofthe aeroplane anda plan in partial section of another constructionalexample of the invention.

1n Figs. 1 and 2, A is the fuselage body of any known construction, butcharacterized by the feature that its fore-part is cut away at the baseor reduced in depth in such a manner as to form a fore-nose B, the topof which is'on the same level as that of the body A, while the bottom bis situated at a higher level than that of the licor a. The bottom Z) ofthe fore-nose B forms a support for a turret C in which the gun ismounted, the turret being mounted beneath the rear part of the fore-nose'and adjacent to the main body part of the fuselage. The bottom or floore of the turret may be on the same level or on a level very slightlhigher than that of the floor a. Thus the ore-part of the fuselage comrises two platforms or floors at different levels c and b, namely onefloor b for the gunner in charge of the usual machine gun or small-boregun, and the other ioor c. for the gunner intrusted with the control ofthe gun mounted in the turret suspended from the bottom of the forenoseB.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 7 the fore-nose of the fusela A carries by meansof brackets l), a ring of U or other shaped cross section, and whichconstitutes a race by means of a ring e for balls F on which theinverted turret C rests by means of a flange of suitable complementaryshape.

r1`his turret carries a gun carriage G and has an embrasure C1 throughwhich the gun H projects and can move in its elevation movements.

1n the turret C there may be arranged permanently chests for a store ofammunition and a chest J situated within reach of the uriner, alwaysstocked with ammunition in case it should be necessary to give a veryrapid re.

On the upper limb of the U Where the rolling track is arranged there isfixed a toothed sector K with which there meshes a pinion L (journaledin a bracket M fixed to 5 the turret N is a hand wheel for actuating thepinion L and thus causing the turret to revolve around its axis in oneor the other` direction according to the desired training of the gun.

The gunner is able at all times to lock the pinion L in a stationaryposition by causing an engagement between the hand wheel N and thebracket M.

In the example illustrated in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, this engagementis effected by a. self-locking clutch. The axle of the pinion L carriesa cam O of arc-shape eccentric relatively to the said axle.v Between theperiphery of this cam and the inside wall of the lodgment formed by the`bracket M, there are arranged balls P which a spring has a constanttendency to press against the segments n projecting from the hub of thehand wheel N, which latter is loose on the axle of the pinion. Thesesegments n constantly clamp between them a nose ()1 which is diametrallyopposite the cam O and is fixed to the latter.

Normally there is always a jamming of the balls between the driving camO of the pinion and the hand wheel loose on the axle of the latter. Thedisengagement is effected only by the actuation of the hand vwheel Nwhich forces away one of the balls P and causes the cam O to be carriedaround by the action of the opposite segment on the nose O1 of the cam.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate another form of the locking clutch.

In this example, the hand wheel N is fixed on the axle of the pinion-L,and is provided with a spring handle N1 having an axially extendingfinger 'n1 normally engaged in one of the notches m1 of a disk M1 fixedto the bracket M. The gun server liberates the turret by depressing thespring handle N1 in view of actuating the pinion L in one or the otherdirection.

In the form shown in Figs. 10 to 14 the longitudinals b1 of the bottomof the forenose B support a girder Qy arranged at right angles to theaxis of the aeroplane, and at the center of which is a bearing R for thevertical pivot pin f/ of a small suspended gun carriage G. This pivotpin is appreciably eccentric relatively to the turret. rEhe smallguncarriage has a laterally projecting horizontal arm`G1 situated in thevertical axial plane of the gun. This arm carn ries at its free end aroller q1 which .is guided in a slot guide C2 extending radially fromthe inner wall of the turret C.

Owing to the eccentric situation of the pivot pin g, the gun barreldescribes the maximum angle of the lateral deviation (Fig. 13) for avery substantially smaller angular displacement a of the turret C.

Fig. 14 illustrates the detail construction of the mechanism foractuating and locking the turret. The axle Z of the driving pinion L isin this case arranged vertically in the bracket M fixed to the turret C.This axle carries a bevel pinion L1 meshing with a pinionvhY2 fixed onthe horizontal axle of the hand wheel N.

As in the example shown in Figs. 8 and 9, t-he hand wheel N is providedwith a spring handle N1 carrying a finger nl nor mally engaged in one ofthe notches m1 of a disk M1 formed on the bracket M.

Figs. 15 and 16 are respectively a vertical section along the axis ofthe aeroplane and a plan in partial section, of a constructional examplein which the turret C, suspended from the fore-nose B of the fuselage,is fixed. The turret has in this case an embrasure of suitabledimensions for permitting the training movement of the combined gunbarrel H and cylindrical shield S carried by the small gun carriage G.This small gun carriage may, as in the preceding example, be supportedby a vertical pivot pin g in a bearing R formed in a girder Q carriedb'y the longitudinals b1 of the bottom of the fore-nose B of thefuselage.A

The training movements of the gun barrel and shield, like the elevationmovements of the gun barrel in the slot s of the shield, may be producedby hand in the usual -manner by the action of the gun server upon ashouldenpiece T.

ln the rear wall of the fixed turret C there may be formed a door C3.

The floor of the bottom c of the turret may, in all constructionalforms, be connected to a gangway Hoor a of the bottom of the fuselagebody A.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, l declare thatwhat ll claim is 1. ln an aeroplane, the combination of the fore-nose ofthe fuselage, a gun turret revolubly suspended beneath said fore-nose,and means for revolving said turret.

2. ln an aeroplane, the combination of the fore-nose of the fuselage, aturret suspended beneath said fore-nose, a rack and pinion engagementbetween said fore-nose and said turret, whereby. the latter may berevolved, and locking means for securing the turret in adjustedposition.

3. ln an aeroplane, the combination of a fuselage having a fore-nose ofless depth than the main body part of said fuselage to constitute anupper floor, and an inverted 'turret mounted beneath the fore-nose toconstitute a lower floor, said floors forming platforms for un operatorsat different heights in the aeroplane.,

supported by sai 4. In an aeroplane, thev combination of the fore-noseof the fuselage, a gun turret revolubly suspended beneath and supportedby said fore-nose, a girder extending horizontall across andat rightangles to the axis o the aeroglane, and a gun carriage girder.

5. In an aeroplane, the combination of the fore-nose of the fuselage, agun turret' revolubly suspended beneath and supported by said fore-nose,a girder extending horizontally across and at right angles to the axisof the aeroplane, a gun carriage supported by said girder eccentric tosaid turret, anda radial arm on said carriage engaging a fixed guide onsaid turret.

6. In an aeroplane, the combination of the fore-nose of the fuselage, agun turret revolubly mounted beneath and supported by said fore-nose andprovided with a gun em- P brasure, a gun carriage mounted in saidturret, a gun and an embrasure shield on said carriage, and means forrotating said turret. I

7. In an aeroplane, the combination of a fuselage having a fore-nose ofless depth than the main body part of said fuselage to constitute afloor at algher level than the oor of said main body part, and aninverted turret mounted beneath the rear part of the fore-nose andadjacent to the main body part of the fuselage to constitute a floor atapproximately the same level as the ioor of said main body part, thefloors of said fore-nose and said turret forming platforms for gunoperators at different heights in the` aeroplane. l

8. In an aeroplane, the combination of a fusela e having a. fore-nose,of less depth than t e main body part of said fuselage to constitute aHoor at a higher levelthan the floor of said main body part, and meanssuspended beneath the rear part of the forenose and adjacent to the mainbody part ,f of the fuselage to constitute a floor atapproximately thesame level as the :door of said mai'n body part, the oors of saidforenose and said suspended means forming latforms for gun operators atdifferent heights in the aeroplane.

Dated this 22nd day of March, 1920. In testimony whereof I have signedthis specification.

JEAN JULES MARIE ANTOINE EUGNE SCHNEIDER.

Witnesses: v

ANDR Mosrroxnn, LOUIS GARDET.

